If you are new to the world of printing and are shopping around for the best printers, you may wonder how do laser printers work. So we know these printers actually use lasers to make prints, but what does that mean exactly? These printers also use a substance called laser toner or just toner. This is this type of printer’s equivalent to ink. The laser hits the toner and shaves off little etchings, which are then attracted to an electrically charged drum. The toner is pressed onto paper using heat and pressure from a fuser, which becomes your prints.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- Laser designs have quickly usurped inkjet printers for making large batches of documents.
- These printers use lasers to etch into toner blocks or cartridges, creating prints via a negative charge or static electricity.
- Laser-equipped printers are considered much faster than inkjet printers, and toner blocks last longer than inkjet cartridges with inkjet printers.
Before understanding the laser-printing process, it is a good idea to learn the exact definition of a laser printer. Laser printers are digital printers that, believe it or not, use lasers to create prints. These lasers are extremely accurate when compared to other printer types, so you won’t have to worry about a printer skipping lines.
Insider Tip
Toner dust can be slightly messy, depending on the printer design, so count on cleaning the unit every now and again.
Benefits of a Laser Printer
There are many benefits to choosing this type of printer over other types of printers, such as inkjet printers.
Speed
Laser printers are much faster than an average inkjet printer, even those available to regular consumers. The process by which lasers break up the toner into toner dust is simply faster than applying ink from an ink cartridge. The speed difference varies depending on your make and model, but you can count on at least a 20 to 30 percent speed increase when making batch print jobs.
Toner Lifespan
Toner blocks last longer than ink cartridges, though toner is typically more expensive. Even with the higher upfront cost, however, you will squeeze enough life out of the toner to make it worth your while. On another note, toner quite literally lasts longer than ink, as the ink dries out and toner does not.
STAT: The laser printer was the first to be invented and was done so in 1969 by Gary Starkweather while working in the Xerox product development team. (source)
Large Capacity
Laser printers typically offer a larger capacity than inkjet printers, thanks to extra-large printing trays and the presence of secondary backup trays for even more volume. This comes into play in office settings, for the most part, but is also useful to regular consumers.
